Welcome to Hyperion Records, an independent British classical label devoted to presenting high-quality recordings of music of all styles and from all periods from the twelfth century to the twenty-first.

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For as the rain

Introduction

For as the rain was composed for a festival of contemporary church music in Uppenbarelsekyrkan in Hägersten, Stockholm, in 2009. It was commissioned by the conductor Kerstin Börjesson, along with a new Missa brevis, for the main service in this festival. This choral postlude sets verses from Isaiah which were appointed for that particular Sunday between Epiphany and Lent, and was scored for the musical forces available: the main church choir (in six parts), a youth choir (three female voice parts) and organ. In the first section the ambiguous bitonal writing proves highly evocative with the two choirs echoing each other against the rippling organ accompaniment. For much of the piece the writing is more atonal than in earlier works, particularly in the organ part, and at the conclusion, with its riotous outburst ‘all the trees of the field shall clap their hands’, there is still a conflict between major and minor.

Recordings

The Swede Bo Hansson has observed that ‘the human voice is the closest you can come to your soul’ and here Rupert Gough and his Royal Holloway Choir showcase works that combine innovative word-setting, darting energy and sustained intensity.» More

Details

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.